A Delhi court, on Friday, remanded Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on judicial custody till 28 March in connection with the excise policy case.
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue court said Kejriwal will be produced before the court on March 28 at 2 pm.
The Enforcement Directorate, which arrested the Delhi CM on Thursday, told the court that Kejriwal "took advantage" of his position as chief minister to facilitate money laundering by his party, the AAP, which is a "major beneficiary" of the proceeds of crimes generated in the alleged liquor scam case.
The ED had sought his custody for 10 days.
The ED charged that Kejriwal "was directly involved in the use of proceeds of crime generated in the Goa election campaign of the AAP (in 2022) to which he is the convenor and the ultimate decision maker".
The agency told the court that it has recorded the statements of various people engaged in the election campaign-related activities of the AAP during the Goa polls and it was found that "cash payments were made to them for work like survey workers, area managers, assembly managers etc".
"Taking advantage of the fact that he was also the CM of Delhi, he used the said post to facilitate the offence of money laundering by the "company" ie AAP and therefore, irrespective of his role and liability for the direct commission of the said offence, he is also vicariously liable for the offence committed by the AAP, being the national convenor of the said party and because of his role and active involvement in the day-to-day affairs and the conduct for the business of AAP," the ED informed the court.
Appearing for Kejriwal, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi opposed the ED's demand for Kejriwal's custody, saying there is no direct evidence to link his client to the case.
There is a new pattern now. You have a witness, he does not name Kejriwal in statement one or statement two. You then arrest him and oppose his bail vehemently. He then turns approver. And one fine day he gives a brilliant statement," Bar and Bench quoted Singhvi as saying to the court.
"There is no direct evidence except these statements saying I met Mr Kejriwal etc. If people are arrested and pardoned then they will definitely name anyone," he argued.
